Thu.Nov 09, 2023

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30-year mortgage rates see largest one-week drop in a year, reviving mortgage demand

Housing Wire

As 10-year Treasury yields tumbled, the average 30-year fixed mortgage fell 26 basis points in the week ending Nov. 9, the largest one-week decrease since last November. The 30-year, fixed mortgage averaged 7.5% as of Nov. 9, according to Freddie Mac ‘s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. That’s down significantly from last week ’s 7.76% and up from 7.08% the same week a year ago.

Mortgage 466
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Real revenue, agent count up nearly 100% in past 12 months

Real Estate News

Strong growth was the theme of the quarter despite a net loss. CEO Tamir Poleg also said he believed Real will come out ahead should commissions rules change.

Agents 301
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Housing authorities and lenders added 54 homebuyer assistance programs in Q3: report

Housing Wire

A total of 2,256 homebuyer assistance programs are available in the U.S. housing market after 54 programs were added in the third quarter, according to Down Payment Resource (DPR), a homebuyer assistance program data and solutions firm. Among the available homebuyer assistance programs were 295 that allow borrowers to lower their interest rates by paying an upfront fee, according to DPR’s homeownership program index report.

Insurance 458
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Big rate drop could mean flurry of Thanksgiving home sales

Real Estate News

Mortgage rates took a dive this week, experiencing the largest one-week decline in a year.

Mortgage 325
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NAR president offers guidance on how agents can navigate commission lawsuit uncertainty

Housing Wire

In her first video appearance since the jury verdict in the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit , National Association of Realtors president Tracy Kasper told NAR members that she shares their disappointment in the decision. “The jury reached an outcome that was neither supported by the law nor the facts that were presented in this case,” Kasper said in a video posted Thrusday.

Agents 432
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NAR president’s post-verdict message: Be transparent, trust appeals

Real Estate News

Tracey Kasper addressed Realtors in a video post, offering specific advice for working with buyers and sellers, and a look ahead to other legal actions.

Legal 194

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Rising Mortgage Rates Push Housing Affordability to Lowest Level in Index History

Eyes on Housing

Rising mortgage rates, elevated construction costs and limited existing inventory helped push housing affordability in the third quarter of 2023 to its lowest level in more than a decade. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), just 37.4% of new and existing homes sold between the beginning of July and end of September.

Mortgage 197
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Mr. Cooper partially resumes operations after cyberattack

Housing Wire

Mr. Cooper Group announced on Thursday that certain systems it locked down in early November after a cyberattack have resumed operations. Still, the incident will bring additional costs to the company in the fourth quarter. On Oct. 31, Dallas-based Mr. Cooper disclosed that it had experienced a cybersecurity incident. An unauthorized third party accessed certain of its technology systems and customer data.

Legal 432
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Realtor.com suffers double-digit drop in quarterly revenue, traffic

Inman

Realtor.com parent company Move Inc.'s revenue declined 16 percent to $142 million in the fiscal first quarter. Despite the loss, CEO Robert Thomson remained bullish about the portal's long-term prospects.

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How the commission lawsuits may prompt intervention from DOJ and regulators

Housing Wire

For Regina Braga, the president of Res/Title, the verdict in the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit did not come as a surprise. “We’ve definitely seen a movement in the last few years to be more ‘end-consumer friendly’ if you will — making sure that they are protected, not only in knowing their rights, but that they are protected from all the cost that is associated with the real estate transaction,” Braga said.

Legal 431
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Compass snags high-performing Rhode Island Sotheby’s team

Inman

The Blackstone Team is based in Providence and closed more than $95 million in sales volume last year. The team's move to Compass comes amid intense competition for top talent.

Realty 184
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NAF’s Rick Arvielo on AI, offshoring tech, and not screwing it all up

Housing Wire

HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler sat down with Rick Arvielo, co-founder and CEO of New American Funding (NAF), to talk about AI, why he chose to start NAF Technology India and how to keep NAF innovative. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Sarah Wheeler: New American Funding is known for building rather than buying technology.

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Mr. Cooper back online after ‘precautionary’ 4-day shutdown

Inman

More than 4 million homeowners send their mortgage payments to Mr. Cooper, but it's unclear how many had their data exposed as the company continues to investigate a breach discovered on Halloween.

Mortgage 184
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As rates climb, how are non-QM lenders faring?

Housing Wire

As mortgage rates hover around 8% for agency mortgages, lenders handling conventional mortgages are struggling to find business. But how are the non-QM lenders faring? According to Acra Lending CEO Keith Lind, the company is currently locking its pipeline at rates of about 9.25%. “Our pipeline is up about 24% since July and we’re going to fund almost 23% more loans in 2023 than we did in 2022,” he said.

Lending 421
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Fathom Realty continues to grow agent count with rebound in sight

Inman

While transactions fell 15 percent from 2022, Fathom executives said during a Q3 earnings call Wednesday that its flat fee commission split model helped its agent network grow by 13 percent.

Agents 176
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Opinion: New commission standards from NAR don’t address the real issues

Housing Wire

In mid-October amidst ongoing controversy, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced it has changed its commission rule , also known as its Participation Rule. It now allows listing brokers to offer buyer brokers $0 in compensation when listing a home in any of the 500 Realtor-affiliated MLS s across the U.S. With the NAR playing a pivotal role in shaping the industry’s landscape, there are many opinions on what this new commission rule means — or doesn’t mean — for the legal i

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BoxBrownie selected as latest LeadingRE Solutions Group partner

Inman

The Australian image marketing company is the latest preferred partner of LeadingRE’s Solutions Group, a body of vendors chosen to represent a wide range of technologies and service providers.

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Donna Gland, head of talent development and resources at NAR, to retire

Housing Wire

Longtime National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) staff member Donna Gland has announced her retirement, according to an email sent by CEO Bob Goldberg to NAR members and obtained by HousingWire. Gland, who has been with the trade group for 38 years, most recently served as NAR’s head of talent development and resources. She will officially leave NAR at the end of the calendar year.

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The Agency scoops up 4 NorCal Compass agents

Inman

Over the past few months, 34 agents have joined The Agency from Compass' Northern California offices. In total, The Agency has brought on 72 agents in the region over the course of 2023.

Agents 179
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Better launches white-labeled mortgage-as-a-service platform 

Housing Wire

New York-based digital lender Better Home & Finance Holding Company has partnered with information technology consulting company Infosys on a mortgage-as-a-service platform. The integrated end-to-end digital mortgage white-labeled platform aims to cut origination costs and helps partners limit operational volatility in the current interest rate environment, Better said Thursday in announcing the launch.

Mortgage 410
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Judge rules Katy Perry can keep disabled vet’s Montecito mansion

Inman

Following a multiyear legal battle, Judge Joseph Lipner ruled that Carl Westcott presented "no credible evidence" that he lacked the mental capacity to sign the deal with Perry and Bloom in 2020.

Legal 170
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eXp’s CFO Jeff Whiteside set to leave role

Housing Wire

Jeff Whiteside, eXp World Holdings ’ chief financial officer, has stepped down from his position, the company announced on Thursday. The brokerage already initiated a search process to find a replacement. Meanwhile, Whiteside, who was CFO for five years, will stay at the company until Dec. 1 to support the transition. Until a new CFO is appointed, Kent Cheng, eXp World Holdings ’ chief accounting officer, will serve as the eXp’s principal financial officer, the company said in a statement. ̶

Realty 409
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2024 and beyond: Supercharge your business with top AI tools

Inman

Join Phil Stringer and take a deep dive into how AI is reshaping the industry and how you can implement helpful tools into your business for 2024 and beyond.

Tools 183
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Market Update Parkland and Coral Springs Q3 2023

Empire Appraisal Group

Market Update Parkland and Coral Springs Q3 2023 Since 2005, Empire Appraisal Group, Inc. has been assisting clients in making well-informed decisions related to real estate. They are the top residential appraisal company in Broward and Palm Beach County, providing reliable and accurate appraisals alongside exceptional customer service. At Empire Appraisal Group, professionalism and integrity are highly valued, resulting in a well-established reputation for delivering an exceptional appraisal ex

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Teams Spotlight: The Barton Barrett Marshall Team

Inman

Find out how this powerhouse NYC team, led by Lindsay Barton Barrett and Maggie Marshall, built their business and what they're glad they didn't know before they got into real estate.

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How much value do home improvements add to an appraisal?

Boston Appraisal

The effect that home improvements have on an appraisal can vary depending on the type of improvement, the quality of the work, and the local real estate market. Generally, improvements that increase the square footage, improve the functionality or aesthetics of a home, or add energy-efficient features can have a positive impact on appraisal values. What are some common home improvements that can increase appraisal values?

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Weathering the storm: A Q3 2023 earnings roundup

Inman

From brokerage companies to portals to lenders and investors, Airbnb to Zillow, we've got the news you can use about the dollars and cents that are driving the real estate economy right now.

Brokerage 164
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Is the Transportation Industry Due a Digital Transformation?

GoForrmz

Is it finally time for the transportation industry to undergo a much-needed digital transformation? The transportation industry plays a pivotal role in the global economy, ensuring the seamless movement of goods and materials across the world. However, despite its critical function, the industry has long been plagued by an outdated and cumbersome reliance on paper documents.

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11 ways to put a modern spin on old-school business basics

Inman

To get ahead, you have to stay rooted in proven practices while being ready to adapt to the inevitable change ahead, says luxury consultant Chris Pollinger. Here's how to put a modern twist on traditional strategies.

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Understanding Debt-to-Income Ratio

BiggerPockets

Understanding your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is crucial for making wise investment decisions. Your DTI impacts your ability to qualify for loans, lock in low interest rates, and take advantage of the best financial deals. A high DTI ratio means you are carrying a lot of debt and are a potential risk to lenders.

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Donna Gland, longtime NAR HR Chief, set to retire after 38 years

Inman

Some NAR staffers and members had called for Gland's resignation, alleging she allowed a toxic work environment to flourish.

Realtors 187
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Landlord’s Guide to Intestate Property

BiggerPockets

When someone passes away without leaving a will, the estate must go through the probate process to determine heirs, settle outstanding debts, and distribute any remaining assets. The laws on how intestate properties are handled vary by state.

Law 73
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Airbnb rolls out new features in battle for hotel share

Inman

In its war to grab market share from the hotel industry, Airbnb rolls out features that seek to take out the surprises that can come at check-in.

Marketing 176
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The 5 Most Profitable Places to Buy a Vacation Rental Property

BiggerPockets

Today, we’re sharing the five best vacation rental markets that’ll make you more money than anywhere else in the US. The best news?